Chapter 2

(18 years later.)

Balinor watched as Merlin worked in the fields of Ealdor knowing that is was time to tell his nephew who he really was and it was also time to go home he

just did not know where to begin but it had to be done today because tomorrow was Merlin and Arthur's eighteenth birthday and he wanted to reunite their

family tomorrow if possible.

"Your thinking of telling him aren't you is it really time?" Balinor looked to his wife Hunith and replied "Yes it is time to tell Merlin and I want to leave maybe

ten minutes after that so we can get to Camelot in the early morning before the sun rises. I do not want to take the chance of anyone knowing about us

until we see Uther and Arthur first. I want the boys to meet and for Merlin to meet his father. I want their eighteenth birthday one to be remembered the

one that brought our family back together." Balinor returned his gaze to Merlin then down at his feet.

Hunith placed a comforting hand on his arm and said "I'll go and get Merlin you get what we need ready and once you tell him we'll go." They shared a

brief kiss and then Hunith started towards Merlin who was out in the fields at the end of the far side of the village. Balinor used a spell to pack what they

would need quickly and efficiently which was finished in about one minute. Then Balinor went to a loose floorboard that he had a hidden compartment

under it and pulled it loose.

Balinor pulled out the regal clothing he had been able to bring along with him from Camelot all those years ago it would be good to be in his old clothes

again. Balinor pulled the garments out and changed quickly and right as he finished fastening the buckle of the red clock with the Pendragon crest

embroidered in gold on it Merlin walked in.

"Uncle what are you doing don't you know it would be treason if you were caught wearing that peasants aren't suppose to wear that kind of stuff." Merlin

said with utter horror at what Balinor was doing but Balinor knew it was time. "That would be true if you and I had actually been born peasants." Merlin

looked absolutely confused but Balinor continued "You and I were not born peasants Merlin your Aunt Hunith was but when she married me he status

became that of a noble woman. Do you remember all of what I told you over the years about Uther and his son Arthur?" "Yes, from what you have said the

queen died giving birth to Arthur and Uther was distraught he grieved for a few days but then he stared to look towards the future for his son Arthur and he

found his purpose again. He is a good King from what I have heard from others and yourself. Arthur is very much the same as Uther just he is a little

arrogant and a bit of Prat but overall a good man. But what does any of this have to do with you or me for that matter." Merlin replied Pride coloring his

tone when he talked about his hero's which please Balinor greatly but he sighed and said "There was a part of the story I left out that you need to here and

it will help you understand how you and I are involved and what this has to do with you." Balinor paused then began his narrative of the true events of the

night Ygraine died "The night queen Ygraine died she did not just give birth to one son she gave birth to twins. The younger of the twins had magic he was

a warlock he had magic the moment he was born the druids believe the second twin is Emrys and that Arthur the elder twin is the once and future king.

Killgarra confirmed my suspicions that it was true years ago. For about four hours after Ygraine died the Kings twin was with him talking about how best to

tell the people about the queens passing but they had moved on to the subject of the twin princes the king was holding in his arms one with magic one

without. A sorcerer who had felt the jolt in the magic of the earth when the boy was born knew how powerful the boy would become and used magic to get

into Uther's chambers where the royal family was at the time. She demanded that she take the youngest twin so that she could rise and train him then use

him as a weapon only loyal to her. Uther's brother who also possessed magic and was a dragon lord because the gift passed down to him rather than Uther

because that is how they wanted it told the sorcerer that if she wanted the prince that she would have to get through the brother and the father plus a slew

of dragons and knights to get the boy. She relented but before she left she vowed that she would catch them off guard then take the boy for herself and

then she left. The king and his brother bother knew that the one prince would not be safe in Camelot so the King asked his brother to take his youngest of

his two twin sons and hid him where the witch would never think of looking and for the brother to watch over him to keep him safe. The brother took him

here to Ealdor and raised him as a peasant but at the same time gave him the same education that the prince would have received had he lived in Camelot

and taught him how to control his magic so that when the time did come for them to return home the boy would be well prepared. No one in Ealdor except

the brother and the peasant woman he married knew anything about who the boy truly was." Balinor finished his narration hoping that Merlin could figure it

out from there though he knew that even for Merlin who had a very intellectual mind and was good as solving things like this knew that Merlin would never

figure this out without help but he waited silently to see how Merlin reacted to the story first "You mean there is another Prince of Camelot hidden here in

Ealdor as well as the kings long lost brother do I know them have I seen them around?" Merlin asked excitedly making Balinor chuckle a little but sobered

up immediately knowing this was going to be a bombshell on Merlin "Merlin you don't just know the prince or the kings brother for the kings brother sits

right here in front of you, and you my boy are the long lost prince of Camelot and you are of age now and as I promised your father King Uther I would

return with you at that time."

Merlin was stunned into silence and that was no easy feat. He opened and closed his mouth a few times his throat suddenly dry but he found his voice "I'm

a-a prince of Camelot that explains some things like why you taught me in diplomacy, tried to teach me how to fight with a sword that you gave up on

because I was too clumsy, and that why- by the gods I'm a bloody prince. That is a lot to take in one day. When are we leaving?" Merlin was taking it

rather well considering what had just been dumped on him but then again that was how Balinor and Uther themselves were calm and collected until they

were alone then all hell broke loose when they were alone.

"I want to leave right away I already have the horses saddled and ready. I plan to ride though the night if we are lucky we will reach Camelot before

sunrise and if I know my brother he will still be awake presiding over a mountain of paperwork. But when we get close to the city I want you to put on the

cloak I have in your saddlebags I don't want to take a chance of anyone recognizing me and by extension you before we talk to Uther and Arthur alone so

we should go." Merlin just nodded as he followed his uncle from the house he had always called home with his Aunt by his side with a comforting arm

wrapped around him as they made their way to the stables where their horses where kept. Merlin had gotten his bay mare Milly when he was about six

years old and Milly had only been a filly, he had trained her himself with Balinor's help of course and now Milly was the most tame gentle mare unless you

give her reason not to be. Merlin smiled at seeing her he jumped on to her effortlessly he was a very skilled rider and Milly would only allow him to ride her

unless he was on her with someone he permitted. Balinor jumped on his old war horse that he had had since before Merlin could remember with Hunith

sitting behind him.

Soon they were off towards Camelot where a whole new adventure would begin.